Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.6.27
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSanctified Water and the Working of Providence
“Being thirsty one night, the King entered the arena of sacrifice, and when he saw all the brāhmaṇas lying down, he personally drank the sanctified water meant to be drunk by his wife.”
What the purport teaches
- Yajñas performed by brāhmaṇas according to Vedic ritualistic ceremonies are potent. Water sanctified by Vedic mantras can bring about the desired result.
- The brāhmaṇas had sanctified the water for the King’s wife to drink in the yajña.
- By providence, the thirsty King entered the sacrificial arena at night. While the brāhmaṇas were lying down, he drank the water himself.
Try this today
Reread the purport and identify the intended use of the water and the unexpected event.
Ask yourself
How does the purport distinguish the intended plan from what happened by providence?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.